Cricket once again found itself at the centre of political tension as an unprecedented incident unfolded during the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup, where the customary handshake between captains was conspicuously absent during the toss of the India vs Bangladesh Group B match at the Queens Sports Club, Zimbabwe, on Saturday.
Indian captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh vice-captain Zawad Abrar, who stood in for the unwell Md Azizul Hakim Tamim, did not shake hands — marking the first such incident at an ICC event.
Abrar won the toss and elected to field first, citing damp conditions after rain, a view Mhatre later echoed.
However, the two captains did not interact at all, a gesture widely seen as a reflection of escalating tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The incident is part of a growing pattern of strained cricketing relations.
The latest flashpoint emerged after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladesh’s star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad, reportedly following BCCI directives.
The move sparked outrage in Bangladesh, prompting the BCB to seek formal clarification and raising serious concerns about the safety and treatment of Bangladeshi players in India.
Tensions escalated further when Bangladesh’s government initially refused to issue a visa to Indian official Gaurav Saxena, part of a two-member ICC delegation proposed for talks, before later reversing the decision.
The BCB has since taken a firm stance, announcing that its national men’s team will not travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing security concerns.
The government also imposed a ban on IPL coverage in Bangladesh.
Observers note that the roots of the handshake snub trace back to last year’s Asia Cup T20, where Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, both before and after the match.